A cocktail of security and devp
SHILLONG: For the first time in the past 10 years, the Union ministry for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) will be headed by a minister whose origin is not from the North East. Former army chief VK Singh, who has been elected from Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh, has been given independent charge of the DoNER ministry as a minister of state.
The DoNER ministry was a brainchild of the previous NDA government led by Atal Behari Vajpayee. Since its formation, the ministry has been headed by hardcore politicians. At times they have been from outside the region. Now the assigning of the ministry to a professional soldier is a pointer to the approach of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to problems of the north east, with focus on security related issues, say observers.
Two BJP leaders from North East, Sarbananda Sonowal (Assam) and Kiren Rijiju ( Arunachal) have been inducted into the Modi ministry, but neither of them have been given either DoNER Ministry or Tribal Affairs, portfolios which could have given them an opportunity to be more involved in a hands on way with development of the region and its people. It is pointed out that the priority of DoNER is development, not security.
DoNER was created in 2001 and given the status of a Union ministry in 2004. The first DoNER minister was CP Thakur, appointed on an experimental basis for more than a year, from January 2003 to May 2004. Under the first UPA government in 2004, PR Kyndiah from Shillong was appointed Cabinet Minister in charge of DoNER and Tribal Affairs. In 2009, under UPA-II, B.K. Handique from Assam was Cabinet Minister in charge DoNER from May 2009 to July 2011. Subsequently Paban Singh Ghatowar, also from Assam, was made Union Minister of State of DoNER with independent charge from August 2011 till 2014.
There is a view that if the DoNER ministry is headed by someone from outside, it would preclude the possibility of some states of the region being favoured and others getting a step-motherly attitude. But, the heading of the ministry by a former army chief has a different significance as the army is heavily engaged in the region not only in counter-insurgency but also in the China border in Arunachal Pradesh, it is pointed out. Priorities of DoNER could now be coterminous with the priorities of the army in the region to a degree.
Arunachal has been witnessing upgradation of border infrastructure like roads which is mainly to strengthen the defence on the China border, but these roads would also serve the purpose of development of the state. A strike corps is now being raised with deployments planned in the north east. This would also need requirements of infrastructure like land. The experience of General V. K. Singh in these aspects would come in handy for the government, it is thought.
The army also has some funds for development through its civic action programmes, though these are used to supplement its CI operations, it is pointed out.
That Rijiju from Arunachal has not only been inducted in the Modi ministry and given the important portfolio of Minister of State Home is also significant, say observers. It is a message to China that Arunachal is an integral part of India. Rijiju, in particular, is known for his vocal stand against incursions by the Chinese in Arunachal. Sonowal is Minister of State with independent charge of Sports and Youth Affairs, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.